THE COMMON MARTIN. 163 



it went to sleep, it always coiled itself up into a 

 round position, and covered its head with its tarl. 

 Whilst awake it was perpetually in motion; and it 

 was very amusing to observe with what eagerness 

 and agility it sprang at Mice or poultry that hap- 

 pened to come within the reach of its chain*. 



This celebrated naturalist had several other Mar- 

 tins, at different times, which had been caught in 

 traps at a more advanced age than the above. 

 These, however, continued extremely wild; bit 

 every person who attempted to touch them; and 

 all died from refusing to take nourishment. 



The Martin produces young ones more than 

 once in the year; generally in the spring and 

 autumn. The younger females do not bring more 

 than three or four, whilst those of more advanced 

 age have six or seven at a litter. The female makes 

 her nest in the hole of a decayed tree or wall, in 

 the cleft of a rock, or sometimes in a deserted 

 Rabbet burrow. A Martin, which had been shot on 

 the moors above Holmfirth in Yorkshire, having 

 escaped into its retreat in the ground, was dug 

 out; and at the further end of the burrow there 

 were found as many feathers, feet, and bones, of 

 grouse and other birds, as would have filled a cou- 

 ple of Winchester bushels. 



The female Martin has four teats, all of which 



* Buffon par Sonnini, xxv. p. 361, 362. 



M 2 are 



